Apartment hunting in New York City can be complicated thanks to NYC real estate-specific jargon. One such term you’ve likely come across is “no-fee apartment.” What does that mean? Well, using a broker to help you find a rental is standard ― but it’s not free. Typically, someone has to pay for the broker’s services, and in NYC, who pays that fee can vary from apartment to apartment. Here’s everything you need to know about no-fee apartments in NYC.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Central Harlem

216 Edgecomb Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

560 West 144th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

620 West 143rd Street

$2,995 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

620 West 143rd Street

$2,598 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

2270 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,650 No Fee

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1

South Harlem

2074 F Douglas Boulevard

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

125 East 71st Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Washington Heights

715 West 172nd Street

$2,908 No Fee

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1

Central Harlem

112 West 138th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

East Village

309 East 9th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Sutton Place

1047 Second Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Fort George

9 Thayer Street

$2,400 No Fee

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1

What Is a No-Fee Apartment Listing?

When searching for a place, you’ll likely come across apartment listings that loudly declare “no fee!” You’ll also encounter many listings that don’t. So what’s the difference? 

In very basic terms, a no-fee apartment is an apartment where the tenant doesn’t pay a commission or broker fee. But, like so many things in NYC real estate, there’s more to know.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Brooklyn Heights

200 Clinton Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

119 Albany Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

7259 Shore Road

$1,850 No Fee

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1

Sheepshead Bay

710 Avenue S

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1130 Lafayette Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Gravesend

2277 West Street

$2,300 No Fee

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1

Park Slope

203 Berkeley Place

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

101 Suydam Street

$2,899 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

131 Herkimer Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

7224 Fourth Avenue

$2,199 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

931 Carroll Street

$2,786 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

807 Nostrand Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

What’s the Difference Between Broker Fees and Commissions?

“The terms ‘broker fee’ and ‘commission’ are interchangeable,” says Becki Danchik, a StreetEasy Expert and broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg. “It’s the fee a broker earns on completing a transaction in which they match the right person with the right property. A no-fee apartment is typically when the landlord has agreed to pay that fee to the exclusive listing agent on behalf of the tenant.” A landlord will usually do this in the hope of securing a tenant quickly, she explains.

Landlords Have Brokers

Keep in mind, though, that “no fee” applies only to the landlord’s broker, also known as the listing agent, and landlords are not required to cover that cost (more on this shortly). Here’s how it works: if you approach an apartment’s listing agent directly and secure the no-fee apartment on your own, then great — you don’t pay a fee! But if you enlisted the services of a broker (who is not the listing agent), and you found that apartment through that broker, you owe them their commission, whether the apartment says “no fee” or not.

Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Ditmars-Steinway

20-48 31st Street

$2,725 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

83-15 116th Street

$1,875 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

67-41 Burns Street

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Pomonok

160-11 79th Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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1.5

Ridgewood

1864 Himrod Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

41-18 20th Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Jackson Heights

35-54 83rd Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Glendale

74-43 64 Place

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Astoria

12-28 31 Drive

$1,975 No Fee

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1

Forest Hills

69-10 Yellowstone Boulevard

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-33 47th Street

$2,275 No Fee

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1

What Is a Broker Fee?

Now that you understand the definition of no-fee apartment, you’d probably like to know how apartments with fees work. In short, renters who use a broker to find an apartment have to pay a broker fee. If you hire a broker who successfully finds you an apartment, they’ll earn an agreed-upon commission on the deal.

How Much Are Broker Fees for Renters?

The cost varies by broker and area. For instance, fees charged for Manhattan rentals may be more expensive than units in Queens, which has a lower median asking rent. Broker fees are somewhat negotiable, but generally, it’s either one month’s rent or up to 15% of the unit’s annual rent. That’s on top of paying your first month’s rent and security deposit. FYI: your security deposit can’t be more than one month’s rent.

Wait, Weren’t Broker Fee Abolished?

New York State changed the broker fee regulations with the Statewide Housing Security & Tenant Protection Act of 2019. The guidance issued stated that a prospective tenant can’t compensate a landlord’s agent (aka listing agent). It would have been a substantial cost-saving measure for future renters ― but a judge struck it down in April 2021, ruling that the state misinterpreted the act. 

Sample Move-In Costs with a Broker’s Fee

Property owners or management companies will often ask for first month’s rent and a security deposit, in addition to the broker’s fee, before you can move in to a new apartment. Here is the estimated cost breakdown for a $3,799/month (NYC’s median asking rent as of July 2023 — to see the latest median asking rent for a particular neighborhood, visit our StreetEasy Data Dashboard) apartment with a 12 percent broker’s fee (percentage of total annual cost) — before even moving in!

Hoboken Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Hoboken

529 Garden Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

421 Garden Street

$2,095 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

912 Garden Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

354 1st Street

$2,450 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

163 3rd Street

$2,653 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

126 Garden Street

$2,550 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

328 Monroe Street

$2,320 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1115 Willow Avenue

$2,775 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

102 Washington Street

$2,680 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

1200 Washington Street

$2,689 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

615 Park Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Hoboken

235 Monroe Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in NYC 

You’ve decided you want to avoid paying a broker fee. Now, you’re probably wondering how to find a no-fee apartment. Here are a few options:

• Use the no-fee apartment filter on StreetEasy: You can easily check the “no-fee only” box during your StreetEasy search to yield only apartment options without a broker fee. It will narrow your search to only those units.
• Look for apartments listed by owners or management companies: A management rep is essentially an in-house broker — their goal is to find ideal tenants for their apartments. So, if you contact them directly, there shouldn’t be a fee. Just remember, property management companies rent apartments only in their specific buildings. Brokers, on the other hand, can have access to rentals in a variety of places.
• Walk around the neighborhood: If you know the neighborhood you’re interested in, walk around it to see if buildings have posted listing signs. They should have the landlord or management company’s contact information. Call them and see if there are apartments available or if any are coming up.

Jersey City Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Jersey City

153 Lexington Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

43 Bergen Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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2

Jersey City

310 Stegman Parkway

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bergen/Lafayette

78 Summit Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

136 Old Bergen Road

$2,300 No Fee

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2

The Heights

695 Summit Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

117 Wade Street

$1,999 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

31 Winfield Avenue

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

221 4th Street

$1,997 No Fee

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1

Jersey City

21 Freedom Place

$1,895 No Fee

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1

Historic Downtown

342 4th Street

$2,000 No Fee

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1

The Heights

695 Summit Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Do No-Fee Apartments Save You Money?

Surface level, it seems that no-fee apartments would be less expensive to rent than fee apartments. But there is some debate as to whether no-fee rentals save renters money, particularly when it comes to luxury rentals. Many buildings like these are no-fee, but cost much more per month because they have desirable amenities such as doormen, fitness centers, and outdoor space. It’s also possible that for a no-fee apartment, the broker fee is baked into your rent and you end up paying more per month — but it still saves you on upfront move-in costs.

Whatever you decide, be sure to search for your dream rental on StreetEasy!